Looking for Challenging Work?

By Dana Pavelock, Dir. Home Care Operations

Personal Care Aide (PCA) and Home Health Aide (HHA) occupational shortages in the Hudson Valley region have increased as we experience significant aging trends for those in need of home care. In 2000, 12 percent of New York's residents citizens were 65 or older, a 3.6 percent increase since 1990. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2030 New York's elder population will increase by 60 percent to almost 4 million. By that year the traditional caregiving workforce (women aged 25 to 44) will decrease by 13 1/2 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes Home Health Aides as the fastest growing of all occupations having expected a 56 percent growth in new jobs between 2004-2014. Bureau of Labor studies indicate national health care jobs are expected to grow by over 27 percent (twice the rate of other occupations). The industry certainly has its own challenges, experiencing a turnover rate of between 30 percent to 60 percent depending on what study you read. At the same time, the aging population wishing to remain at home requires more complex care that necessitates advanced training of Personal Care Aides (PCAs) to the Home Health Aide (HHA) level.

Finding, hiring, training and keeping PCA & HHA level staff has become one of the major focuses of all home health agencies throughout the state. Due to high volumes of turnover, enhanced supervision directives regulated by the state Department of Health, increasing salaries of nursing staff that are required to provide training and supervision accompanied by low and sometimes delayed reimbursement from contracts, agencies have had to adjust budgets accordingly in efforts to meet the increasing demands for services. Likewise, it has forced agencies to re-evaluate their recruiting practices and how to work with and retain aides after they are hired.

Since the beginning of 2007, our agency has hired over 70 new employees and has been fortunate to have received a grant that offers free PCA & HHA training classes on a monthly basis. This grant expects to train close to 300 students looking to re-enter the health care industry over the course of the one-year grant cycle. Part of the grant involves working collaboratively with the state Department of Labor, Dutchess County BOCES and other collaborators, to assist in helping the students secure work following training. Many of our new staff start out performing homemaker & companion duties, such as cleaning, cooking and shopping, and then attend a training course so they can take on personal care duties. Jobs created by the increase in demand for these workers are expected to produce numerous openings. Persons who are interested in this work and suited for it should have excellent job opportunities, particularly those with personal experience as a caregiver or those who have already participated in training as PCA/HHA or CNA.

The HHA/PCA’s daily routine may vary. Aides may be placed on assignments on a long-term basis (working with the same patient for months or years), some aides will work with several patients a day on a short-term basis and having access to reliable transportation is a necessity. Aides may spend a portion of the working day traveling from one client to another (travel time is usually not compensated but several agencies pay mileage reimbursement). The home environment varies as well with some assignments in upscale private homes while some others might be untidy or depressing. Most patients are pleasant and cooperative while others may be more challenging. Aides work somewhat independently having periodic supervised visit by registered nurses. They receive detailed instructions of when to visit patients and services to deliver. Aides can work anywhere from 2 hours to 40 hours weekly, depending on availability.

Successful aides like to help people and do not mind hard work. Unlike national trends 63 percent of our current workforce is over 45, with 29 percent 25 to 44 and just 8 percent 18 to 24. Twenty-five percent of our staff is over age 60 and one third are over 70, seniors assisting seniors. All aides need to be responsible, respectful, honest, compassionate and cheerful. In New York State, aides are required, at minimum, to have a complete physical exam, be in good health and required to have a criminal history record check.

Anyone interested in working with and supporting our aging population with a few extra hours a day available should contact a local home care agency to check employment opportunities. You couldn’t even begin to imagine the difference you can make in someone’s life and how rewarding this type of work really is!